Ways of asking for the bill in Spanish
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The other day I was in a restaurant with some Latin American friends and one Brit. He was keen on learning some Spanish, so we taught him several words and phrases. When it came to asking for the bill, we taught him the "usual" way you ask for it:
La cuenta, por favor.
Here the question that arose: is there any other way in which you can ask for the bill? And we struggled! We could not come up with any other phrase, beyond some trivial expansions of the above, like:
Me trae la cuenta, por favor.
Looking at this question, I can see other words to refer to the bill, which seem to be local in Spain (none of my friends was Spanish). I've never heard of them.
Besides these examples, are there further ways of asking for the bill in Spanish? Maybe not also in terms of specific words used for the bill (as the post above), but different ways altogether?
modismos expresiones
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
The other day I was in a restaurant with some Latin American friends and one Brit. He was keen on learning some Spanish, so we taught him several words and phrases. When it came to asking for the bill, we taught him the "usual" way you ask for it:
La cuenta, por favor.
Here the question that arose: is there any other way in which you can ask for the bill? And we struggled! We could not come up with any other phrase, beyond some trivial expansions of the above, like:
Me trae la cuenta, por favor.
Looking at this question, I can see other words to refer to the bill, which seem to be local in Spain (none of my friends was Spanish). I've never heard of them.
Besides these examples, are there further ways of asking for the bill in Spanish? Maybe not also in terms of specific words used for the bill (as the post above), but different ways altogether?
modismos expresiones
There is also the international non-verbal request of "writing" with one finger on the palm of the other hand, but since it's non-verbal I don't think it belongs in an answer.
â Peter Taylor
Sep 3 at 15:24
@PeterTaylor It is surely an answer! I wonder though how universal this is, say in Asia, Africa, Middle East, etc
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 15:31
Some times I just say "le/te pago?"
â Andrés ChandÃa
Sep 4 at 17:31
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
The other day I was in a restaurant with some Latin American friends and one Brit. He was keen on learning some Spanish, so we taught him several words and phrases. When it came to asking for the bill, we taught him the "usual" way you ask for it:
La cuenta, por favor.
Here the question that arose: is there any other way in which you can ask for the bill? And we struggled! We could not come up with any other phrase, beyond some trivial expansions of the above, like:
Me trae la cuenta, por favor.
Looking at this question, I can see other words to refer to the bill, which seem to be local in Spain (none of my friends was Spanish). I've never heard of them.
Besides these examples, are there further ways of asking for the bill in Spanish? Maybe not also in terms of specific words used for the bill (as the post above), but different ways altogether?
modismos expresiones
The other day I was in a restaurant with some Latin American friends and one Brit. He was keen on learning some Spanish, so we taught him several words and phrases. When it came to asking for the bill, we taught him the "usual" way you ask for it:
La cuenta, por favor.
Here the question that arose: is there any other way in which you can ask for the bill? And we struggled! We could not come up with any other phrase, beyond some trivial expansions of the above, like:
Me trae la cuenta, por favor.
Looking at this question, I can see other words to refer to the bill, which seem to be local in Spain (none of my friends was Spanish). I've never heard of them.
Besides these examples, are there further ways of asking for the bill in Spanish? Maybe not also in terms of specific words used for the bill (as the post above), but different ways altogether?
modismos expresiones
modismos expresiones
edited Sep 3 at 20:05
Alejandro
5,1561524
5,1561524
asked Sep 3 at 11:07
luchonacho
2006
2006
There is also the international non-verbal request of "writing" with one finger on the palm of the other hand, but since it's non-verbal I don't think it belongs in an answer.
â Peter Taylor
Sep 3 at 15:24
@PeterTaylor It is surely an answer! I wonder though how universal this is, say in Asia, Africa, Middle East, etc
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 15:31
Some times I just say "le/te pago?"
â Andrés ChandÃa
Sep 4 at 17:31
add a comment |Â
There is also the international non-verbal request of "writing" with one finger on the palm of the other hand, but since it's non-verbal I don't think it belongs in an answer.
â Peter Taylor
Sep 3 at 15:24
@PeterTaylor It is surely an answer! I wonder though how universal this is, say in Asia, Africa, Middle East, etc
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 15:31
Some times I just say "le/te pago?"
â Andrés ChandÃa
Sep 4 at 17:31
There is also the international non-verbal request of "writing" with one finger on the palm of the other hand, but since it's non-verbal I don't think it belongs in an answer.
â Peter Taylor
Sep 3 at 15:24
There is also the international non-verbal request of "writing" with one finger on the palm of the other hand, but since it's non-verbal I don't think it belongs in an answer.
â Peter Taylor
Sep 3 at 15:24
@PeterTaylor It is surely an answer! I wonder though how universal this is, say in Asia, Africa, Middle East, etc
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 15:31
@PeterTaylor It is surely an answer! I wonder though how universal this is, say in Asia, Africa, Middle East, etc
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 15:31
Some times I just say "le/te pago?"
â Andrés ChandÃa
Sep 4 at 17:31
Some times I just say "le/te pago?"
â Andrés ChandÃa
Sep 4 at 17:31
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
In Argentina we sometimes use
ÿMe cobrás?
(adding por favor is optional). That is literally, "Do you (please) charge me?" or less literally "Will you (please now) take my payment?" or "Will you come here so I can pay you?". It's in the informal register with voseo. Without it it would be ÿMe cobras?.
I have the native feeling or intuition that this might sound rude in other places, where formality and indirectness are more valued, and even here in Argentina if the place is other than a pub or a cheap café. I would also like to know if there are places where people ask, e. g. ÿMe cobrarÃÂa (usted) (por favor)?".
Interesting one! I've never ever heard anything like this at the other side of the Andes (Chile).
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 11:40
4
This is used in Spain as well (although obvious without the voseo). ¿Me cobra(s)? is heard all over.
â guifa
Sep 3 at 13:02
1
En España se dice también: La dolorosa.
â Lambie
Sep 3 at 13:18
I feel this would be considered rude in mexico
â Mike
Sep 5 at 15:04
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
You have several other options. For instance, you can change cuenta for nota, as stated in one of the many meanings of the word:
- f. Cuenta del importe total de una compra o de una consumición.
Nonetheless the use of nota may sound a bit outdated at least in Spain (I don't know if it's used somewhere else).
If you want a completely different way of asking for the bill, you can say:
ÿMe dice qué/cuánto le debo?
Maybe a bit more informal is the following, as suggested by Brian H.:
ÿ[Me dice] cuánto es?
¿qué o cuánto? Any particular geography associated with this one?
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 11:42
1
@luchonacho sorry, I should have specified that. And you're right, you can use both qué and cuánto.
â Charlie
Sep 3 at 11:48
1
muy parecido a "¿cuánto le debo?" serÃa "¿cuánto es?", aunque esto es menos bastante menos formal.
â Brian H.
Sep 3 at 11:57
After rethinking this, I get the impression this is more relevant in an informal setting, where you stand up to pay, rather than asking for the bill to being brought to you.
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 12:03
3
@luchonacho Agreed, I use "cuánto le debo" when I approach the bar to pay (that is, not table service), but I wouldn't use it to call the waiver over.
â guifa
Sep 3 at 13:03
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
En Colombia la más usada es la que mencionas en tu pregunta;
La cuenta por favor
Pero también tenemos
ÿCuánto es?
ÿQué/Cuánto le pago?
ÿQué se debe? / ÿQué le debo?
y cuando estas en el restaurante de confianza donde conoces a todo el mundo incluso decimos
- ÿCuánto se perdió?
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
In Argentina we sometimes use
ÿMe cobrás?
(adding por favor is optional). That is literally, "Do you (please) charge me?" or less literally "Will you (please now) take my payment?" or "Will you come here so I can pay you?". It's in the informal register with voseo. Without it it would be ÿMe cobras?.
I have the native feeling or intuition that this might sound rude in other places, where formality and indirectness are more valued, and even here in Argentina if the place is other than a pub or a cheap café. I would also like to know if there are places where people ask, e. g. ÿMe cobrarÃÂa (usted) (por favor)?".
Interesting one! I've never ever heard anything like this at the other side of the Andes (Chile).
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 11:40
4
This is used in Spain as well (although obvious without the voseo). ¿Me cobra(s)? is heard all over.
â guifa
Sep 3 at 13:02
1
En España se dice también: La dolorosa.
â Lambie
Sep 3 at 13:18
I feel this would be considered rude in mexico
â Mike
Sep 5 at 15:04
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
In Argentina we sometimes use
ÿMe cobrás?
(adding por favor is optional). That is literally, "Do you (please) charge me?" or less literally "Will you (please now) take my payment?" or "Will you come here so I can pay you?". It's in the informal register with voseo. Without it it would be ÿMe cobras?.
I have the native feeling or intuition that this might sound rude in other places, where formality and indirectness are more valued, and even here in Argentina if the place is other than a pub or a cheap café. I would also like to know if there are places where people ask, e. g. ÿMe cobrarÃÂa (usted) (por favor)?".
Interesting one! I've never ever heard anything like this at the other side of the Andes (Chile).
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 11:40
4
This is used in Spain as well (although obvious without the voseo). ¿Me cobra(s)? is heard all over.
â guifa
Sep 3 at 13:02
1
En España se dice también: La dolorosa.
â Lambie
Sep 3 at 13:18
I feel this would be considered rude in mexico
â Mike
Sep 5 at 15:04
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
up vote
6
down vote
In Argentina we sometimes use
ÿMe cobrás?
(adding por favor is optional). That is literally, "Do you (please) charge me?" or less literally "Will you (please now) take my payment?" or "Will you come here so I can pay you?". It's in the informal register with voseo. Without it it would be ÿMe cobras?.
I have the native feeling or intuition that this might sound rude in other places, where formality and indirectness are more valued, and even here in Argentina if the place is other than a pub or a cheap café. I would also like to know if there are places where people ask, e. g. ÿMe cobrarÃÂa (usted) (por favor)?".
In Argentina we sometimes use
ÿMe cobrás?
(adding por favor is optional). That is literally, "Do you (please) charge me?" or less literally "Will you (please now) take my payment?" or "Will you come here so I can pay you?". It's in the informal register with voseo. Without it it would be ÿMe cobras?.
I have the native feeling or intuition that this might sound rude in other places, where formality and indirectness are more valued, and even here in Argentina if the place is other than a pub or a cheap café. I would also like to know if there are places where people ask, e. g. ÿMe cobrarÃÂa (usted) (por favor)?".
answered Sep 3 at 11:34
pablodf76
17.1k1953
17.1k1953
Interesting one! I've never ever heard anything like this at the other side of the Andes (Chile).
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 11:40
4
This is used in Spain as well (although obvious without the voseo). ¿Me cobra(s)? is heard all over.
â guifa
Sep 3 at 13:02
1
En España se dice también: La dolorosa.
â Lambie
Sep 3 at 13:18
I feel this would be considered rude in mexico
â Mike
Sep 5 at 15:04
add a comment |Â
Interesting one! I've never ever heard anything like this at the other side of the Andes (Chile).
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 11:40
4
This is used in Spain as well (although obvious without the voseo). ¿Me cobra(s)? is heard all over.
â guifa
Sep 3 at 13:02
1
En España se dice también: La dolorosa.
â Lambie
Sep 3 at 13:18
I feel this would be considered rude in mexico
â Mike
Sep 5 at 15:04
Interesting one! I've never ever heard anything like this at the other side of the Andes (Chile).
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 11:40
Interesting one! I've never ever heard anything like this at the other side of the Andes (Chile).
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 11:40
4
4
This is used in Spain as well (although obvious without the voseo). ¿Me cobra(s)? is heard all over.
â guifa
Sep 3 at 13:02
This is used in Spain as well (although obvious without the voseo). ¿Me cobra(s)? is heard all over.
â guifa
Sep 3 at 13:02
1
1
En España se dice también: La dolorosa.
â Lambie
Sep 3 at 13:18
En España se dice también: La dolorosa.
â Lambie
Sep 3 at 13:18
I feel this would be considered rude in mexico
â Mike
Sep 5 at 15:04
I feel this would be considered rude in mexico
â Mike
Sep 5 at 15:04
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
You have several other options. For instance, you can change cuenta for nota, as stated in one of the many meanings of the word:
- f. Cuenta del importe total de una compra o de una consumición.
Nonetheless the use of nota may sound a bit outdated at least in Spain (I don't know if it's used somewhere else).
If you want a completely different way of asking for the bill, you can say:
ÿMe dice qué/cuánto le debo?
Maybe a bit more informal is the following, as suggested by Brian H.:
ÿ[Me dice] cuánto es?
¿qué o cuánto? Any particular geography associated with this one?
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 11:42
1
@luchonacho sorry, I should have specified that. And you're right, you can use both qué and cuánto.
â Charlie
Sep 3 at 11:48
1
muy parecido a "¿cuánto le debo?" serÃa "¿cuánto es?", aunque esto es menos bastante menos formal.
â Brian H.
Sep 3 at 11:57
After rethinking this, I get the impression this is more relevant in an informal setting, where you stand up to pay, rather than asking for the bill to being brought to you.
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 12:03
3
@luchonacho Agreed, I use "cuánto le debo" when I approach the bar to pay (that is, not table service), but I wouldn't use it to call the waiver over.
â guifa
Sep 3 at 13:03
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
You have several other options. For instance, you can change cuenta for nota, as stated in one of the many meanings of the word:
- f. Cuenta del importe total de una compra o de una consumición.
Nonetheless the use of nota may sound a bit outdated at least in Spain (I don't know if it's used somewhere else).
If you want a completely different way of asking for the bill, you can say:
ÿMe dice qué/cuánto le debo?
Maybe a bit more informal is the following, as suggested by Brian H.:
ÿ[Me dice] cuánto es?
¿qué o cuánto? Any particular geography associated with this one?
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 11:42
1
@luchonacho sorry, I should have specified that. And you're right, you can use both qué and cuánto.
â Charlie
Sep 3 at 11:48
1
muy parecido a "¿cuánto le debo?" serÃa "¿cuánto es?", aunque esto es menos bastante menos formal.
â Brian H.
Sep 3 at 11:57
After rethinking this, I get the impression this is more relevant in an informal setting, where you stand up to pay, rather than asking for the bill to being brought to you.
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 12:03
3
@luchonacho Agreed, I use "cuánto le debo" when I approach the bar to pay (that is, not table service), but I wouldn't use it to call the waiver over.
â guifa
Sep 3 at 13:03
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
up vote
5
down vote
You have several other options. For instance, you can change cuenta for nota, as stated in one of the many meanings of the word:
- f. Cuenta del importe total de una compra o de una consumición.
Nonetheless the use of nota may sound a bit outdated at least in Spain (I don't know if it's used somewhere else).
If you want a completely different way of asking for the bill, you can say:
ÿMe dice qué/cuánto le debo?
Maybe a bit more informal is the following, as suggested by Brian H.:
ÿ[Me dice] cuánto es?
You have several other options. For instance, you can change cuenta for nota, as stated in one of the many meanings of the word:
- f. Cuenta del importe total de una compra o de una consumición.
Nonetheless the use of nota may sound a bit outdated at least in Spain (I don't know if it's used somewhere else).
If you want a completely different way of asking for the bill, you can say:
ÿMe dice qué/cuánto le debo?
Maybe a bit more informal is the following, as suggested by Brian H.:
ÿ[Me dice] cuánto es?
edited Sep 3 at 12:33
answered Sep 3 at 11:37
Charlie
41.7k965177
41.7k965177
¿qué o cuánto? Any particular geography associated with this one?
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 11:42
1
@luchonacho sorry, I should have specified that. And you're right, you can use both qué and cuánto.
â Charlie
Sep 3 at 11:48
1
muy parecido a "¿cuánto le debo?" serÃa "¿cuánto es?", aunque esto es menos bastante menos formal.
â Brian H.
Sep 3 at 11:57
After rethinking this, I get the impression this is more relevant in an informal setting, where you stand up to pay, rather than asking for the bill to being brought to you.
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 12:03
3
@luchonacho Agreed, I use "cuánto le debo" when I approach the bar to pay (that is, not table service), but I wouldn't use it to call the waiver over.
â guifa
Sep 3 at 13:03
add a comment |Â
¿qué o cuánto? Any particular geography associated with this one?
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 11:42
1
@luchonacho sorry, I should have specified that. And you're right, you can use both qué and cuánto.
â Charlie
Sep 3 at 11:48
1
muy parecido a "¿cuánto le debo?" serÃa "¿cuánto es?", aunque esto es menos bastante menos formal.
â Brian H.
Sep 3 at 11:57
After rethinking this, I get the impression this is more relevant in an informal setting, where you stand up to pay, rather than asking for the bill to being brought to you.
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 12:03
3
@luchonacho Agreed, I use "cuánto le debo" when I approach the bar to pay (that is, not table service), but I wouldn't use it to call the waiver over.
â guifa
Sep 3 at 13:03
¿qué o cuánto? Any particular geography associated with this one?
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 11:42
¿qué o cuánto? Any particular geography associated with this one?
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 11:42
1
1
@luchonacho sorry, I should have specified that. And you're right, you can use both qué and cuánto.
â Charlie
Sep 3 at 11:48
@luchonacho sorry, I should have specified that. And you're right, you can use both qué and cuánto.
â Charlie
Sep 3 at 11:48
1
1
muy parecido a "¿cuánto le debo?" serÃa "¿cuánto es?", aunque esto es menos bastante menos formal.
â Brian H.
Sep 3 at 11:57
muy parecido a "¿cuánto le debo?" serÃa "¿cuánto es?", aunque esto es menos bastante menos formal.
â Brian H.
Sep 3 at 11:57
After rethinking this, I get the impression this is more relevant in an informal setting, where you stand up to pay, rather than asking for the bill to being brought to you.
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 12:03
After rethinking this, I get the impression this is more relevant in an informal setting, where you stand up to pay, rather than asking for the bill to being brought to you.
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 12:03
3
3
@luchonacho Agreed, I use "cuánto le debo" when I approach the bar to pay (that is, not table service), but I wouldn't use it to call the waiver over.
â guifa
Sep 3 at 13:03
@luchonacho Agreed, I use "cuánto le debo" when I approach the bar to pay (that is, not table service), but I wouldn't use it to call the waiver over.
â guifa
Sep 3 at 13:03
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
En Colombia la más usada es la que mencionas en tu pregunta;
La cuenta por favor
Pero también tenemos
ÿCuánto es?
ÿQué/Cuánto le pago?
ÿQué se debe? / ÿQué le debo?
y cuando estas en el restaurante de confianza donde conoces a todo el mundo incluso decimos
- ÿCuánto se perdió?
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
En Colombia la más usada es la que mencionas en tu pregunta;
La cuenta por favor
Pero también tenemos
ÿCuánto es?
ÿQué/Cuánto le pago?
ÿQué se debe? / ÿQué le debo?
y cuando estas en el restaurante de confianza donde conoces a todo el mundo incluso decimos
- ÿCuánto se perdió?
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
En Colombia la más usada es la que mencionas en tu pregunta;
La cuenta por favor
Pero también tenemos
ÿCuánto es?
ÿQué/Cuánto le pago?
ÿQué se debe? / ÿQué le debo?
y cuando estas en el restaurante de confianza donde conoces a todo el mundo incluso decimos
- ÿCuánto se perdió?
En Colombia la más usada es la que mencionas en tu pregunta;
La cuenta por favor
Pero también tenemos
ÿCuánto es?
ÿQué/Cuánto le pago?
ÿQué se debe? / ÿQué le debo?
y cuando estas en el restaurante de confianza donde conoces a todo el mundo incluso decimos
- ÿCuánto se perdió?
answered Sep 3 at 16:21
DGaleano
7,66011542
7,66011542
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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There is also the international non-verbal request of "writing" with one finger on the palm of the other hand, but since it's non-verbal I don't think it belongs in an answer.
â Peter Taylor
Sep 3 at 15:24
@PeterTaylor It is surely an answer! I wonder though how universal this is, say in Asia, Africa, Middle East, etc
â luchonacho
Sep 3 at 15:31
Some times I just say "le/te pago?"
â Andrés ChandÃa
Sep 4 at 17:31